Kimora Lee Simmons has never shied away from calling motherhood her greatest job and these days, her family is even bigger than the five kids she’s raised under her own roof.
During an appearance on Today with Jenna & Friends on Wednesday, Dec. 3, the entrepreneur and mom of five opened up about the way her circle of children has grown.
Beyond raising Ming, Aoki, Kenzo, Wolfe, and her adopted son Gary, she says she’s stepped into a parental role for other young people who’ve long been part of her life, including the daughters of her late best friend, Kim Porter.
“I have my kids, and then I have kids on the side,” Kimora joked. “I have a stepdaughter, well, an additional daughter. I have another son, bonus son, who’s on the show, Jaden, another one who’s just been with us for many, many years. One of my friends who passed away, Kim Porter, I have all of her kids. Even though some of them are adults, but some of them are 18, twins.”
When asked whether they turn to her the way her own children do, she didn’t hesitate. “Yeah, they’re with me. I just got off the phone with them! I’m a lot of people’s mom.”
Porter, who died in 2018, was mother to twins D’Lila and Jessie, 18, as well as sons Quincy, 33, and Christian, 26. The former model’s connection to them has only deepened in the years since Porter’s passing, especially as their father, Sean “Diddy” Combs, remains in jail following his September arrest.
For the 50-year-old, expanding her household isn’t new, caring is simply what she does. She shares son Kenzo, 16, with Djimon Hounsou; daughter Ming, 25, and daughter Aoki, 21, with Russell Simmons; son Wolfe, 10, with Tim Leissner; and welcomed Gary through adoption at age 10.
The mother-of-many often gives fans glimpses into her full, blended, ever-growing family. In June, she celebrated Kenzo’s 16th birthday with a sweet Instagram tribute showing him standing nearly a head taller than her.
“Happy birthday to my 6’7” baby @kenzoklh. I’m so proud of you for the young man that you’re becoming!” she wrote. “An amazing brother, son, friend, teammate and so much more! Mama loves you sooooo much!! Keep rising to the top! I’m right by your side every step of the way!”
This fall, Kenzo starred in his first modeling campaign, and credited his mom as one of his biggest style inspirations.
“Some fashion influences of mine would definitely be my mom, who helps me and talks to me about those types of things,” he told the brand Eve.
Kimora proudly shared the campaign on Instagram, writing, “So proud of my baby @kenzoklh for his first modeling campaign for @weareeve_!!! Congratulations! Mama loves you!”
